Heading to the real world

"A year has passed, and I've somehow become even more handsome. Sigh, what a sin."

Early the next morning, Tenshin Ichiro stood before the mirror, grooming himself with his usual narcissism.

"Yeah, yeah, you're the most handsome, the most handsome in the world. Now move aside once you're done." Urahara pushed Ichiro away with a look of utter disgust.

They hadn't gone too wild at yesterday's gathering; after all, they weren't exactly close, and having lived two lifetimes, Ichiro wanted to live this one more freely. Having too many friends was just too exhausting.

So, he had spent the entire time sitting quietly in a corner, offering polite responses before leaving with the others.

There hadn't been much interaction, and the others, having no interest in a commoner who had "climbed" into their social circle, naturally drifted away after a few failed attempts at conversation.

"Hurry up, you're so slow, Urahara." Ichiro leaned against the doorframe, urging him on impatiently.

"Cut the chatter! If you weren't so slow, I'd have been ready ages ago!" Urahara grumbled, pulling up his trousers with a look of deep regret.

"Tch, you're certainly full of yourself now that your pants are on."

Urahara rolled his eyes at Ichiro, ignored him, ruffled his short yellow hair, and walked out.

"Let's go."

"Mm."

"Not going to socialize more with our classmates? This isn't going to end well." Urahara walked with his hands behind his head, glancing at Ichiro beside him.

"Doesn't matter. I'm already sick of that life of walking on eggshells and trying to please everyone. I've finally been reborn; I want to live a little easier."

"Fair point. Almost forgot you aren't from the Soul Society. No wonder. Still, without friends, you're going to have trouble once you join the Thirteenth Division."

"I'll deal with that when the time comes. Besides, don't I still have you guys?"

"Heh." Urahara shook his head and smiled without saying anything. With Ichiro's talent, he would do just fine in the Thirteenth Division even without them, provided he didn't go out of his way to provoke the nobles.

As they spoke, the two stopped under the girls' dormitory. After some idle chatter, Yoruichi emerged, and the three of them headed to the classroom together.

This had been the routine for the past year, to the point where Ichiro sometimes wondered if the reason those two hadn't broken through that "layer of paper" yet was somehow his fault.

But then, Ichiro reconsidered; in the original story, this dynamic lasted for centuries. Clearly, his presence changed nothing, so he stopped worrying about it.

A moment later, the three of them froze as they walked into the classroom. Urahara and Yoruichi turned to look at Ichiro in unison: the seat at the back by the window was taken.

After a year of being together, they understood that this guy had an inexplicable obsession with that spot. For any class or activity with open seating, he always chose it!

This was the first time they had seen it occupied, and they were curious to see how Ichiro would handle it.

Provocation? Negotiation? Or would he just sit next to it?

To their surprise, Ichiro walked silently to the third seat in the row against the wall by the door. While not as good as the back window seat, it was still a prime "protagonist" spot.

I, Tenshin Ichiro, refuse to be ordinary!

Urahara and Yoruichi exchanged a look, both seeing the surprise in the other's eyes. They sat down in the seats next to him, and Urahara asked curiously, "That's rare. I didn't think you'd ever sit anywhere else."

Ichiro slumped over his desk and shot Urahara a glare. "Don't make me out to be some kind of weirdo, okay? Any seat is fine by me."

"Is that so? Then give me that spot when we get it back?"

"Heh."

Ichiro didn't say much, but that single sound made his stance perfectly clear.

"Hello there." Suddenly, a girl with a long ponytail sat in front of Ichiro, turned around, and greeted him. "My name is Ten-shin Kazuo. I remember your name is Tenshin Ichiro, right? What a coincidence. Please take care of me from now on."

Ichiro stared blankly at the girl, tilting his head in confusion. "Ten-shin Kazuo? Your surname is also Tenshin?"

"Hm?" Now it was Ten-shin Kazuo's turn to look at Ichiro with confusion.

"Hm?" Ichiro looked back with equal bewilderment.

Watching the two stare at each other, Yoruichi slapped her forehead and said, "You didn't read the notice that was sent out, did you? It had the new class rosters. How else do you think yesterday's gathering was organized?"

"Didn't read it... Why would I? Wouldn't it be better to spend that time studying Kido incantations? Yoruichi, you've already surpassed me."

Recalling Ichiro's talent for Kido, Yoruichi's mouth twitched. "Who told you that you had to master incantation abandonment before learning the next number..."

Yoruichi looked at Ten-shin Kazuo and asked curiously, "I didn't see you at the gathering yesterday. Did you not go?"

"Yeah, I had something to take care of."

"That explains it. This guy has that kind of personality. If you don't stand right in front of him, he won't bother to learn anything about you. He's just a blockhead."

"Eh? Is that so..."

"Hey!"

"Heh, well, let's get to know each other now. I'm Ten-shin Kazuo. Please take care of me."

"Uh... same here. Please take care of me." Compared to Kazuo, Ichiro's reaction was rather lukewarm.

It couldn't be helped. Even though she was a girl, she was unfortunately a background character, and he had no interest in extras. Besides, once he perfected human transmutation, what kind of girl wouldn't he be able to have?

"Quiet down, everyone. Time for roll call." The teacher in charge of Class 3 arrived, scanned the room, and opened the lesson plan. The girl turned back around.

"Matsuoka Yukimura..."

"Here."

"Tomoya Kirigaya..."

"Here."

"Yoruichi Shihouin..."

"Here."

"Kisuke Urahara..."

"Here."

"Tenshin Ichiro..."

"Here."

"...Ten-shin Kazuo..."

"Here."

The teacher glanced at the two of them, seemingly wanting to confirm if there was any relationship between them, but after a brief look, he simply continued calling out the remaining names.

A moment later, he closed the manual and clapped his hands.

"Very well, everyone is here. We will now proceed with your first Soul Burial practice. Everyone, assemble at the Senkaimon on the training grounds. Move out."

The scene shifted, and the group arrived in front of the school building. Active Shinigami from the Thirteenth Division were already waiting by the Senkaimon. They would accompany the students for the rest of the lesson, pointing out any mistakes or oversights immediately.

Ichiro gazed deeply at the Senkaimon, touched the gloves tucked into his pocket, took a deep breath, and slowly exhaled.

This day had finally arrived!